Building suspension apparatus

ABSTRACT

In a multistory building construction wherein building floors are dependingly supported from the top of a central and supporting tower, an improved suspension system for supporting the floors from the top of the tower is provided. The tower is constructed with paired horizontal beams having arcuate and opposite ends sloping from a vertical position overlying the sidewalls of the tower to a horizontal disposition along the top of the beam intermediate the beam ends. Supporting straps are fastened to and draped over the beams in layers to a depending position parallel to the building tower sidewalls. When connected to roof and floor supporting straps immediately below the beam ends, the layered supporting straps form a laminated supporting interconnection for compressively loading the tower which can be easily placed, be predictably loaded, and avoid the high shear stresses.

United States Patent Erbll [$4] BUILDING SUSPENSION APPARATUS 12 16mm. man My mun, s14 Saratogl Avenue, Santa Clara. Calif.

[73] Assignee: Anni, .Ilu, Burlimnme.

[22] Filed: Sept. 17, 1970 [2]] Appl. No.2 72,959

Primary Examiner-John E. Mumh Auomey-Towmd and Townsend Aug. 29, 1972 [57] ABSTRACT lnlmultiatorybuildingoomtrmtionwheminhlilding floonmdependinglympporwdfromthetopofa cenu'almdsupponingtowenanimprovedawpemion symmforwpponingtlnfloonfmmflnetopoffln wweriaprovidei'lhewweriscomtructedwith pairedhofizontalbeanuhavingmuawmoppodw endallopingfromaverticflponitionoverlyingthe sidcwlllaofthetowcrwahorimmaldispoaitionalong thewpofthebeamintennedimflnbeymendmsupponingmpsmfanenedtoanddrapedovetthe beanninlaymtoadependingpodtionpanllcltomc buildin towenidewallmwhcneomectedtomofand floormpponingurapsinumdiauelybelowflwbeam endmthelayendmpponingmapufonnalamhmed mpponingintercomnctionforeompreaivelylonding thetowerwhichcanbeeailyplacebepmdictably loadedmndavoidfllehighahearm.

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IBRAHIM HIDAYET ERBIL BY WNW ATTORNEYS BUILDING SUSPENSION APPARATUS This invention relates to buildings of the type having floors dependingly suspended from the top of a central and supporting tower. More particularly, the structure herein disclosed is directed to an improvement for compressively loading the tower from the top with straps.

Buildings of the type wherein floors are dependingly supported by straps from the top of a central and sup porting tower are already known. Typically, these buildings include heavy beams for bridge-type structures at their top. These beams or bridges serve to transfer the load of the floor supporting straps to the central supporting tower.

These bridges or beams have serious disadvantages. Often, their individual members are so heavy that conventional cranes cannot errect them. Typically, these bridges or beams have to be hauled into place with special rigging equipment. Moreover, their loading stresses and shear stresses are complex. Typically, many of the members used have great section to resist such stresses.

An object of this invention is to compressively load the top of a central supporting tower with the weight of floors dependingly suspended therebelow. Accordingly, concrete beams are cast in place at the top of the tower with a flat upper strap supporting surface. This surface slopes from a vertical position overlying the sidewalls of the tower to a horizontal position along the top of the beam between its ends. A supporting strap is placed over the top of the beams and draped downwardly along the building sidewalls to the points where the floors are each attached therebelow. This strap is the member which transfers the load of all floors to the tower.

An advantage of the arcuate beam at the tower top is that it can be of concrete. This beam can be poured and cured in place, integrally constructed with the tower and requires no heavy or bulky material to be positioned at the tower top.

An additional advantageof this construction is that the beams and straps can be disposed immediately over the sidewalls of the central and supporting chord where they transmit their load directly to the walls of the lower.

Yet another advantage of this invention is that the beam at its arcuate end disposes the straps downwardly and vertically immediate to the tower sidewalls. The straps are disposed at a position where they do not interrupt or interfere with the floor space of the building.

Still another advantage of this invention is that the straps as loaded and bending from a horizontal position intermediate the beam ends to a vertical position at the beam sidewalls serve to compressively load the cast in place concrete beams at the building top. This compressive loading avoids the high shear stresses heretofore found in tower top constructions and enables concrete and other building materials capable of withstanding only compressive loading to be used in the fabrication of the beams.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide for a laminated construction of the strap at the top of the building.

An advantage of this laminated construction is that the weight of the installed members at the tower top is reduced. Such reduction can occur both in length and in thickness with the laminated construction here illustrated.

An additional advantage of this laminated construction is that the strap constructed by sequential placement of laminates at the tower top, can conform to minute irregularities which will inevitably be present in any concrete cast construction.

Still another advantage of the laminated construction is that the individual layers of the strap can avoid builtin stresses which would occur in the bending of a large unitary strap member over the arcuate beam ends. Moreover, the necessity of preforming, as by foregoing, casting or the like, a large strap at the arcuate ends is avoided.

Still another advantage of the laminated construction of the strap over the beam is that the individual laminates are free to move relative to one another when loaded. The strap will thus be able to conform to dynamic or changing static loadings which will inevitably occur after the building is constructed and the straps are fully loaded.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will become more apparent after referring to the following specifications and attached drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a building having two central towers with each tower supporting two depending floor supporting straps in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of one of the towers illustrating the beam and strap construction used in this invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the strap of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an end elevation view of the strap of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view of the strap of this invention along lines 5--5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view of the strap of this invention along lines 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a view of the strap of this invention along lines 7-7 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a view of the strap of this invention along lines 8-8 of FIG. 4 showing the interconnection of the laminated strap to the straps at the building side walls.

Referring to FIG. I, the construction of the building incorporating this invention is illustrated. Typically, the building includes two hollow supporting towers A. Towers A each have at their top two horizontally disposed parallel beams B. Beams B each in turn have draped over their upper surfaces straps C. As is apparent, straps C extend horizontally over the upper surface of beams B and depend downwardly at either end of beams B parallel to the sidewalls of tower A. Straps C connect at their ends to depending straps D. Depending straps D in turn support each of the floors F. Typically, each of the floors F is not supported by direct connection to tower A. Rather, they are apertured to fit around tower A and provided with some freedom of movement relative to the tower. It is thus seen that the entire weight of the floors F is transmitted through straps D and C to beams B, compressively loading towers A at their top with the entire floor weight of the building.

Towers A are typically of a hollow concrete core construction. Their fabrication is typically accomplished by providing a slip form having substantially the same section as the sidewalls of the tower. As the tower is constructed from bottom to top, the slip form is moved upwardly at a rate sufficient to allow the concrete of the tower to cure in place. When constructed, tower A typically houses the service facilities of the building such as elevators, lavatories, fire stairways and the like.

Referring to FIG. 2, the construction of beam B on tower A can be conveniently illustrated. Typically, beam B is positioned over and on the top of one of the vertical sidewalls 14 of tower A. Typically, beam B has a greater horizontal width than the horizontal width of the sidewall which it overlies. Accordingly, the beam tapers inwardly to the sidewall at surfaces 16 along its sides and surfaces 17 at its ends.

Beam B is of concrete construction. Typically, the beam is fabricated in forms into which concrete is poured and cured. As is conventional in concrete construction, reinforcement can be used.

Beam B intermediate of its ends has a horizontal, flat, and upwardly exposed surface 20. Surface 20 is the portion of beam B over which the straps C of this invention are disposed from one end of beam B to the other end of beam B.

At both ends, beam B is provided with an arcuate construction 22. This arcuate construction 22 goes from a horizontal point of tangency with surface 20 at upper end 23 to a vertical disposition at lower end 24. It can thus be seen that straps C bend arcuately over beam B at either end of the beam, the straps bending from a horizontal position to a vertical position.

Beam B extends slightly beyond and outwardly of the sidewalls of tower A. This enables straps C at their vertically disposed ends to depend vertically downward parallel to and immediately adjacent to the outside surface of the building sidewalls 26.

Preferably, the distance between the building sidewalls 26, on one hand, and the ends of strap C, on the other hand, is kept to a minimum. This minimum distance incorporates the advantages of the Improved Suspended Building Construction set forth in co-pending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 866,707 filed Oct. 15,

Referring to FIG. 4 8 in conjunction with FIG. 2, the construction of each of the straps C for the supports of the floors F, FIG. I, of the building can be conveniently illustrated.

Each of the straps C overlying a beam B is divided into four separate sections. These sections, as viewed in FIG. 2, are divided longitudinally and transversely of the strap. On the righthand strap of the beam they include sections 30 and 31. On the left hand side of the beam they include sections 32 and 33.

Additionally, each of the strap sections 30 33 is comprised of individual laminates. As shown in the detail of FIG. 8 of strap section 31, there are laminates to each strap section including a bottom laminate 41 and a top laminate 50.

It is thus seen that each of the straps C includes forty strips of metal, ten strips of metal being required for each of its sections. Typically, these strips of metal are steel. Because of their small size and flexibility, they can be easily transported and placed at the top of the building structure. Moreover, since the straps are of relatively thin dimension, they can be installed on a unit-by-unit basis and bent over the arcuate portion 22 of beam B when installed.

It is important to note that the individual laminates of strap C are not fastened to one another. Rather, they are free for some relative movement and are merely placed one on top of another in side by side relation. This construction permits the individual laminates of the strap to be moved relative to one another during dynamic and thermal loadings which must inevitably occur after the building is constructed.

Additionally, the laminated construction of the straps C conveniently lends itself to the arcuate disposition of the straps over the beams at arcuate portions 22. Typically, lower laminate 41 will be shorter than upper strap 50. This will be because of the difference in radius of curvature between the lower strap 41 on one hand, and the upper strap on the other hand. It should be apparent that had strap C been a unitary member bent arcuately over the ends 22 of beam B, some non-elastic deformation of the straps would have had to occur, either at upper surface, lower surface or both. The separated laminated construction of the straps C prevents such a deformation.

.Ioinder of the straps C in the middle of beam B is provided by anchor 60. This anchor can be conveniently illustrated with reference to FIGS. 2, 4, 5 and 6.

Referring to FIG. 4 and 5, it will be seen that beam B is fabricated with a steel member 61 at the central portion thereof. Member 61 is embedded within beam B and has its upper surface even with surface 20 thereof.

Member 61 has welded to the sides thereof a series of bolts 62. Typically, bolts 62 are spaced along each side of member 61 at preselected intervals and extend downwardly into the concrete construction of beam B where they become embedded upon the beams being poured and cured.

Underlying each bottom laminate 41, there is a first anchor plate 63. Likewise, overlying each top laminate 50, there is a second anchor plate 64. Plates 63 and 64 extend over and under the four adjacent ends of strap sections 30 33 at the center of the beam.

Interconnection of the strap laminates 41 50 between anchor plates 63 and 64 is easily understood. Typically, plate 63, laminates 41 50 and plate 64 are each cross-bored through each of the strap sections 30 33. Thereafter, they are placed over bolts 62 and secured with nuts 65 in the threaded ends of bolts 62.

In addition to the placement of bolts 62, further fastening of the plates 63 and 64 can be made by nut and bolt combination 67. Nut and bolt combination 67 differ from bolts 62 and nut 65 in that the bolts are not secured to embedded member 61 and their bolt heads protrude into beam B in preformed pockets (see FIG. 6).

During fabrication of the laminate construction of strap C, it is convenient to bend laminates 41 50 over the outside surface of the beams. To this end, U-shaped clamps 68 are secured by nuts and bolts 69 extending through beam B. A section exemplary of one of these clamps 68 is shown in FIG. 7. These U-shaped clamps 68 are usually placed with one strap adjacent point 24 on arcuate surface 22 and with another clamp 68 intermediately placed on surface 22.

In addition to assisting the construction of the laminated straps C, it will be apparent that U-shaped straps 68 will tend to hold the strap C in place on beams B. However, it should be noted that straps C are loaded with the entire weight of the building; their movement on beams B under such conditions of high loading is not to be anticipated.

Straps D fasten to each end of straps C at anchors 70. Each anchor 70 is parallel to and immediately adjoining the sidewalls 26 of tower A.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 8 illustrating strap sec tions 30 and 31, it will be seen that straps D consist of two separate sections 71 and 72. Section 71 faces outwardly from tower A and is a solid piece of metal. Section 71 commonly overlies both strap sections 30 and 31 fastening these sections together in side-by-side relation. Strap section 72 is analogous. This section 72 underlies both strap sections 30 and 31 fastening these sections together in side-by-side relation. Thus, strap sections 71 and 72 at their respective upper ends 73 and 74 have sandwiched therebetween laminates 41 through 50. By the expedient of cross-boring straps sections 74, laminates 41 50 of each of the strap sections 30 and 31, and strap section 73 and placing nut and bolt combinations 76 therethrough, fastening of the straps C to straps D is easily effected.

Straps D are the members from which each of the respective floors is supported. Typically, the floors are each supported on paired beams 80. Referring to FIGS. 2 4, straps pass through the upper flange 81 and lower flange 82 on either side of the central web 83 of beam 80. Typically, the beam 80 is pinned to straps F1 and F2 by the expedient of cross-boring the web and straps and inserting pin 85. Web 83 in the vicinity of its crossbore is reinforced by plates 86 on either side thereof.

It will be understood that many modifications of this invention can be made. For example, though a laminated strap construction is preferred, the straps could be forged on a unitary basis with an arcuate contour complementary to the arcuate contour of the upper surface of beam B. Likewise, the lengthwise division and crosswise division of straps C will admit any number of separate constructions. Moreover, beam B could either be integral with or a part of a wall of the central supporting tower. Similarly, other modifications and changes in this invention may be made without departing from its spirit and scope.

What is claimed is:

1. An improved suspension system for dependingly supporting floors from the top of a tower comprising: at least one beam supported on the top of said tower; said beam defining on the top thereof a horizontal and flat strap supporting surface transverse of the longitudinal length of said beam extending substantially the length of the beam; said flat strap supporting surface with respect to the longitudinal dimension of said beam arching from a horizontal slope intermediate of the beam ends to a substantially vertical slope overlying the tower sidewalls at each beam end; at least one supporting strap having two ends and a medial portion therebetween, said strap substantially covering the length and width of said strap supporting surface continuously from one end of said strap supporting surface to the other end of said strap supporting surface, said medial portion placed over said surface with each of said ends extending downwardly from said tower top towards said floor and over said beam ends; and means for connecting said strap ends to said floor for dependingly supporting said floor from said beam.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein said strap is of a laminated construction.

3. The invention of claim 1, wherein said straps are anchored to said beam.

4. The invention of claim 1 and wherein said beam overlies one of the sidewalls of said tower.

5. A building comprising in combination: a central supporting tower including first and second straight sidewall portions at the top of said tower; a floor constructed around said tower; paired strap supporting surfaces each defined at the top of said tower overlying said first and second straight sidewall portions respectively, said strap supporting surfaces being horizontal and flat transverse of the longitudinal length of said first and second straight sidewall portions, extending the length of said first and second straight sidewall portions, said flat surface relative to the longitudinal dimension of said beam having a substantially horizontal slope across the top of said sidewall portions with more downwardly sloping portions adjacent said surface ends', at least one strap having two ends with a medial portion therebetween draped over each straight sidewall portion; said strap at said medial portion draped over each strap supporting surface at the top of said tower and sloping downwardly at said strap ends towards said floor; and, means for connecting said strap ends to said floors for supporting said floor from the top of said tower.

6. The invention of claim 5 and wherein said floor is supported only by said straps.

7. The invention of claim 5 and wherein said strap in cludes an upper laminate and a lower laminate; said lower laminate resting on said flat surface and said upper laminate resting on lower laminate.

8. The invention of claim 7 and wherein the radius of curvature of said lower laminate at said strap ends is smaller than the radius of curvature of said upper laminate at said beam ends.

9. The invention of claim 5 and wherein said surface extends across the top of said tower between said tower sidewalls.

10. An improved suspension system for dependingly supporting floors from the top of a tower comprising: a structural member supported on the top of said tower extending across the top of said tower to overlie the sidewalls of said tower at its ends; said structural member defining a flat load supporting surface extending longitudinally of and across the top of said structural member, said flat surface having a slope transverse of said structural member which is horizontal and a slope longitudinal of said structural member substantially horizontal intermediate the ends of said structural member and sloping vertically downwardly at each end of said structural member; at least one strap substantially covering said strap supporting surface from one end of said structural member to the other end of said structural member, said strap having a plurality of overlying laminates including a first lower laminate and a second upper and overlying laminate; said strap at the medial portion of said lower laminate placed over said flat surface with each of said strap ends extending downwardly from said tower top towards said floor and over said ends of said structural member; means for connecting said strap ends to said floor for dependingly supporting said floor from the top of said tower.

11. The invention of claim 10 and wherein said horizontal structural member is integral a side wall of said tower.

12. The invention of claim 10 and wherein each of said laminates of said strap is anchored to said strucrural member intermediate said strap ends.

13. The invention of claim and wherein each of said laminates is fastened to the other of said laminates.

i I! l 10 1! 

1. An improved suspension system for dependingly supporting floors from the top of a tower comprising: at least one beam supported on the top of said tower; said beam defining on the top thereof a horizontal and flat strap supporting surface transverse of the longitudinal length of said beam extending substantially the length of the beam; said flat strap supporting surface with respect to the longitudinal dimension of said beam arching from a horizontal slope intermediate of the beam ends to a substantially vertical slope overlying the tower sidewalls at each beam end; at least one supporting strap having two ends and a medial portion therebetween, said strap substantially covering the length and width of said strap supporting surface continuously from one end of said strap supporting surface to the other end of said strap supporting surface, said medial portion placed over said surface with each of said ends extending downwardly from said tower top towards said floor and over said beam ends; and means for connecting said strap ends to said floor for dependingly supporting said floor from said beam.
 2. The invention of claim 1, wherein said strap is of a laminated construction.
 3. The invention of claim 1, wherein said straps are anchored to said beam.
 4. The invention of claim 1 and wherein said beam overlies one of the sidewalls of said tower.
 5. A building comprising in combination: a central supporting tower including first and second straight sidewall portions at the top of said tower; a floor constructed around said tower; paired strap supporting surfaces each defined at the top of said tower overlying said first and second straight sidewall portions respectively, said strap supporting surfaces being horizontal and flat transverse of the longitudinal length of said first and second straight sidewall portions, extending the length of said first and second straight sidewall portions, said flat surface relative to the longitudinal dimension of said beam having a substantially horizontal slope across the top of said sidewall portions with more downwardly sloping portions adjacent said surface ends; at least one strap having two ends with a medial portion therebetween draped over each straight sidewall portion; said strap at said medial portion draped over each strap supporting surface at the top of said tower and sloping downwardly at said strap ends towards said floor; and, means for connecting said strap ends to said floors for supporting said floor from the top of said tower.
 6. The invention of claim 5 and wherein said floor is supported only by said straps.
 7. The invention of claim 5 and wherein said strap includes an upper laminate and a lower laminate; said lower laminate resting on said flat surface and said upper laminate resting on lower laminate.
 8. The invention of claim 7 and wherein the radius of curvature of said lower laminate at said strap ends is smaller than the radius of curvature of said upper laminate at said beam ends.
 9. The invention of claim 5 and wherein said surface extends across the top of said tower between said tower sidewalls.
 10. An improved suspension system for dependingly supporting floors from the top of a tower comprising: a structural member supported on the top of said tower extending across the top of said tower to overlie the sidewalls of said tower at its ends; said structural member defining a flat load supporting surface extending longitudinally of and across the top of said structural member, said flat surface having a slope transverse of said structural member which is horizontal and a slope longitudinal of said structural member substantially horizontal intermediate the ends of said structural member and sloping vertically downwardly at each end of said structural member; at least one strap substantially covering said strap supporting surface from one end of said structural member to the other end of said structural member, said strap having a plurality of overlying laminates including a first lower laminate and a second upper and overlying laminate; said strap at the medial portion of said lower laminate placed over said flat surface with each of said strap ends extending downwardly from said tower top towards said floor and over said ends of said structural member; means for connecting said strap ends to said floor for dependingly supporting said floor from the top of said tower.
 11. The invention of claim 10 and wherein said horizontal structural member is integral a side wall of said tower.
 12. The invention of claim 10 and wherein each of said laminates of said strap is anchored to said structural member intermediate said strap ends.
 13. The invention of claim 10 and wherein each of said laminates is fastened to the other of said laminates. 